Illumination control system



Jan. 8, 1946. H. R. ANNIS 3 ILLUMINATION CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed Feb. 5, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l W/m/ESS: //0a/ara 427/2 [S 4/7'0 A/fyi.

Jan, 8, 1946. ANNls 2,392,446

ILLUMINATION CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed Feb. 3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pmnied Jan. s, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,392,446 ILLUMINATION CONTROL SYSTEM Howard Russell Annis, Auburn, Maine Application April 5, 1941, Serial No. 386,993

22 Claims.

The broad object of the present invention is the provision of means for the automatic dimming of the lights of one vehicle by the approach 01 the lights of another vehicle. In accordance with the invention, the lights on the vehicle having the controlled system are dimmed as soon as illumination of sufiicient intensity reaches a photocell carried by the vehicle, and the lights then remain dimmed until, by manual operation, for example, by a foot switch, the bright lights are restored by the operator of the vehicle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved system of the type just described by providing for the automatic reestablishment of the bright illumination when the appreaching vehicle passes the one carrying the controlled lights if there is no other vehicle approaching capable of maintaining the lights in dimmed condition. 4

In the following description, reference will be made to bright and dim lights or illumination with the understanding that these terms are to be construed from the standpoint of an observer approaching on the proper side of the highway. Various systems are now, and have been, in common use for producing the eflect of bright or dim illumination on the approaching side of the road. In some cases, separate filaments of different candle power are provided. In others, the dim ness or brightness is only apparent by reason of the direction of the beams of the lamps even though the various filaments used may have the same actual brightness. In still other case, it may be possible that dim filaments are continuously lighted and that bright illumination is obtained by the light of different additional filaments. It will be evident from the following description that the invention is equally applicable to any such systems, and the description will be so understood.

The above broad objects of the invention and other objects particularly relating to details of construction, the use of gas-type tubes for control purposes, and the provision of proper and ready control under all conditions will become apparent from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a wiring diagram showing one embodiment of the invention utilizing mechanically operating relays for control purposes;

Figure 2 is a similar diagram, but showing the use of a gas-type tube as a relay;

Figure 3 is a further similar diagram showing what is, in effect, a modification of the arrangement of Figure 1 to provide for the automatic restoration of bright lights upon the passage of an oncoming vehicle; and

Figure 4 is a somewhat similar diagram showing the use of a gas-type tube in a circuit also capable of restoring the bright illumination automatically.

In all of the arrangements herein described, the high voltages required for the proper operation of a photocell or amplifying or gas-type tubes is provided by the conventional type of high voltage power supply commonly used at the present timein connection with automobile radios.

Such an arrangement comprises a vibrator-transformer and suitable filter circuits for supplying direct voltages of the order of 109 or more volts. Since such power supplies are quite conventional, they are not illustrated in detail, but will be un= derstood as supplying the voltages to the terminals hereafter referred to. As also pointed out hereafter, they are supplied with battery or generator power through the same switches which render the lighting systems operative.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is illustrated therein an arrangement involving mechanical type relays comprising a photocell 2 adapted to be located in any convenient position on a vehicle so as to be subject to the illumination from an oncoming vehicle. This photocell may be provided inside the windshield or outside the body of the car near one of the headlamps. Desirably, it is shielded against illumination from above by road lamps and from other illumination from the sides which might result from store or similar lighting.

The anode of the photocell 2 is connected to a positive high voltage tap on the power supply indicated at 4, while its cathode is connected to the grid of an amplifying vacuum tube 5, and, through a high grid leak resistance 8 to tap it] of the power supply, which would usually be negative with respect to the grounded cathode of the tube 6 so as to limit the plate current of the tube supplied from a high voltage positive tap [4 through a relay coil [2. Until the photocell is subjected to a predetermined amount of illuminaple, triode or pentode) maintains the plate current below a value sufiicient to cause the relay 52 to attract its armature l6 and make contact between the armature and contact point 8. The contact point it of the relay is connected to the ungrounded side of the dim filaments 2B of the headlamps. As previously explained, the dim condition may be achieved in various ways, and this and the other circuits would be modified accordingly, but for simplicity of description, it will be assumed that there are separate dim filaments and bright filaments 33, one of each being provided in each of two headlamps.

Connected also between the contact i8 and ground is a second relay coil 22, adapted to attract an armature 23, which moves between contact points 23 and 28, being normally maintained by spring action in engagement with the latter, which is connected to the ungrounded side of the bright filaments 30. The contact point 26 is electrically connected with the contact point 88. The armature 24 is connected with one contact 32 of the manually operable switch 33. This contact 32 is also connected to the armature l6 mentioned above. The alternate contact 36 of this switch is connected to the ungrounded side of the dim filaments'20.

The switch 33 is connected to a pair of contacts 33 of a switch 35 and thence through a main light controlling switch 30 to the ungrounded side of the low voltage supply of the vehicle illustrated as the battery 38. It will, of course, be understood that the usual generator supplies the low voltage rather than the battery of the vehicle when the vehicle is in operation. The battery illustrated in this and other figures is, therefore. to be regarded as the low voltage supply system considered as a whole. The lead indicated at 32 is the one connected to the high voltage power supply above mentioned. It will be evident that the switch it accordingly controls the entire operation of the system. The heater of the vacuum tube, if of proper voltage rating, may be supplied directly from the line 62.

The switches 33 and 35 may take various mechanical forms. Their object is to provide, in effect, a switch adapted to close the circuit alternately through contacts 32 and 33 but also capable of manual manipulation to produce momentary opening of the circuit. The more conventional type of dimming switch used at the present time is of snap type in which successive depressions of a button produce alternate contacts by a snap action making it impossible to open the circuit stably without efiecting a change of contacts. In the present instance momentary opening of the circuit without efiecting a change is desirable. Hence, assuming switch 3 to be of the ordinary snap type, the auxiliary switch 35 is provided to efiect a momentary opening of the circuit without effecting a change. This switch may be operated by a separate button but is more desirably incorporated in the snap switch actuating button so as to be opened by preliminary play before the button moves sufiiciently to efiect a change. The arrangement is desirably also as illustrated so that continued application of pressure to switch 35 will result in continued closure of the circuit; i. e., unless the operator intentionally very carefully depresses the operating button, to break one contact 33 but avoid engagement of the other contact 33, no more than a momentary opening of the circuit will result.

tion, the grid of the amplifying vacuum tube 6 (which may be of any suitable type, for exam- By provision of a snap switch permitting circuit opening before change and without efiecting change it is, of course, possible to use only a single switch. 5 The operation or" the system of Figure 1 may now be described. Assuming that the switch 40 is in its closed position, voltages will be applied to the various terminals, and, in view of the position of the switch 34 in contact with 32, the bright filaments '30 of the vehicle will be illuminated through engagement of armature 24 with contact point 28. All lines leading to the dim filaments 20 will be open, as indicated. This condition will continue so long as there is not sufiicient illumination of the photocell to cause dimming of the lights.

If, now, bright illumination is applied to the photocell by the headlights of an oncoming car, as soon as a sufficient intensity is reached, the current of tube 3 will increase to a point at which the armature l6 will be attracted by the relay. As soon as this occurs, it will be evident that voltage will be applied to the dim filaments 20 through the contact occurring between it and i3. Simultaneously, voltage is applied to the coil 22 of the second relay, causing it to attract its armature 24, breaking contact at 28 and making contact at 26. Thus it will be evident that the bright. filaments 30 are deenergized and, at the same time, a parallel energization of the dim filaments 20 and of the relay coil 22 occurs through the contact of armature 2d and contact point 26. If, now, the illumination on the photocell decreases so that the plate current is reduced to a point at which the coil I2 is incapable of holding the armature It, even though the armature i6 is released to disengage the contact I8, the dim filaments and the coil 22 will remain energized. By reason of this condition, the relay 22 is of a self-locking type.

The very important practical advantages of this arrangement are that there is no flickering of the controlled lights due to variations in the illumination on the photocell, even though rapid variations of illumination may cause chattering of the armature iii. As soon as the armature it makes even momentary contact at i8, the selflocking relay 22 comes into action, wiping out any effect of subsequent variations. Thus, once dimming occurs, it continues until manual intervention takes place.

Assuming that the source of illumination has passed and that the photocell is now-insuficiently illuminated to effect dimming, a slight movement of the switch 35 sufiicient to break contact at 33 momentarily, but insufilcient to make contact at 36 (if switches 35 and 33 are interconnected mechanically as above described) will produce a break in the circuit including the armature '24 and contact 26, and accordingly the dim filaments 20 and the relay coil 22 are deenergized so that the armature 24 is permitted to drop against the contact 28. If contact between 3 5 and 32 has continued, as soon as contact between 35 and either contact 33 is remade, the bright filaments are again energized. Another momentary break possibly made in releasing switch 35 is of such short duration as not to make any appreciable fiicker in the light from the bright filaments.

The above was described on the assumption that the illumination on the photocell was insufiicient to produce dimming. If during such manipulation of the foot switch 35, the photocell 76 was subject to bright illumination, the armature reen eges a contact 33 after a momentary disengagement, the dim filaments and the relay 22 will be energized, with the result that the dim filamentswill be illuminated.

While the above-description implies the possibility of a transient failure of illumination of either set of filaments, and the possible transient illumination of the bright set, it will be evident from the practical standpoint that neither of these events occurs. Both the relays are desirably of a quick acting type attracting and releasing their armatures in a very small fraction of a second. The switch 35 will be open only momentarily and will immediately reclose, it being practically impossible for an operator to hold it open in a movin car. The heat capacity of the lamp filaments commonly used in headlights is quite considerable, so that it takes an appreciable fraction of a second for the filaments both to become bright and to lose their brightness. Consequently, in normal operation, as described, the bright filaments do not perceptibly glow, nor does continuous illumination by the dim filaments noticeably cease in case the photocell is subject to suflicient illumination to cause dimming. On the other hand, if it is not subject to dimming illumination,

the deenergization of the dim filaments and the energization of the bright filament occur in such rapid sequence that continuou illumination of the highway is provided.

It will be evident from the above, therefore, that the system will operate without flickerin of the headlamps and with smooth transition from bright to dim condition, or the reverse in automatic reversal and restoration. Insurance is also had against bright illumination being restored by the operator even intentionally so long as illumination of a degree causing dimming occurs on the photocell.

If, for example, in city driving, it is desired to use the dim filaments only, the switch 34 is placed in contact with point 36, by which action the bright filaments are taken completely out of the circuit. If the switches 34 and 35 are interconnected as described above, the momentary openings of switch 35 have no substantial result in effecting even a momentary flickering of the illumination. While the dim filaments are illuminated, the automatic dimming devices may still operate to energize the relay [2, but the operations will be without effect. Since the current involved in maintainin the automatic dimming devices in operation is small, it is immaterial whether or not theyare operating,

The arrangement illustrated in Figure 1 requires a relay l2 having a very large number of turns in its coil for operation under the slight changes of current produced in the amplifying tube 8 by the changes of illumination of the photocell. The relay 22, of course, is relatively inexpensive, since it may utilize fairly heavy current from the low voltage supply 38. In Figure 2, advantage is taken of the characteristics of a gas-filled type of tube to permit the use of relatively inexpensive relays in the circuit. In this modification of Figure 2, a photocell 44 similar to photocell 2, has its anode connected to a positive high voltage tap 48, and has its cathode connected to a load resistor 50 connected to a negative biasing cap 52 and to the grid of a gas-type relay tube indicated at 48. A tube suitable for use at this point is, for example, RCA 2050 or 2051 of hot cathode gas-filled type. As compared with vacuum tubes,

it is a characteristic or suchgas-fllled tubes that substantially no current passes between the plate and cathode until the grid potential rises to a certain point. Thereupcn ionization and discharge occurs which is no longer subject to control by the grid. The currents upon such discharge may be of the order oi 50 to 100 milliamperes and are, or course, capable of operating relatively inexpensive relays. Such a relay is indicated at 54, a positive voltage being applied to the plate of the tube 48 through it from the positive high voltage tap 56.

The plate or the tube 48 is connected to a contact point 62 adapted to be engaged by the grounded armature 60 of a relay 58 One end of the coil or which is grounded while the other end is connected to a contact point 66 engageable by a manually operable, normally open, switch '64.

The relay 54 is provided with an armature 68 movable between contact points I0 and 14 connected respectively to the dim filament 12 and the bright filaments 76. The armature 88 is connected to a contact point 18 of a manually operable switch 80, which has a second alternate contact point 82 connected to the ungrounded side of the dim filaments 12. The switches and 64 are connected together and through a switch 86 to the low voltage supply conventlonalized as a battery 84. The line 88, also subject to the control of the switch 86, leads to the high voltage power supply and the heater of the tube 48. In the case of the use of the gas-filled tube 48. a time delay device, for example, of thermal type is preferably incorporated in the power supply circuit to insure that the cathode of the tube is brought up to operating temperature before the high voltage is supplied. This is conventional in the use of such tubes to avoid destructive bombardment of the cathode by ions of the gas.

The switches '64 and 86) may be independently operable or may be interconnected in the same general fashion as described above in connection with the switches 34 and 35. The switch 80 is preferably of the snap type successive applications of pressure to the operating button of which will effect change between the points it and 82. The switch 56 may be incorporated in the operating button so as to be closed by a slight amount of play existing before a snap action of the switch 88 is effected. Thus a momentary tap on an actuating button may effect closing of the switch 84 to produce the result later described, while a stronger application of pressure will eilect operation of the switch 83d.

With the switch cc closed and the 'tube 48 energized and switch 80 in the position illustrated, the parts will occupy the position shown if the illumination on the photocell 44 is insuflilcient to produce automatic dimming. The bright filaments 16 will be energized through the switch Bil and through the contact of armature 68 with point l4.

If, now, sufiicient illumination impinges on the cell 44 to raise the potential of the grid of the tube 48 to a suii'icient extent to produce discharge, the tube will break down and the plate current will flow to a degree determined by the constants of the circuit. No appreciable plate current will have been flowing prior to this time, and since a plate current of the order of 50 to milliamperes may now be flowing, a relatively insensitive relay may be used at 54, the armature B8 of which will be attracted to make contact at 10, thereby deenergizing the bright filaments and energizing the dim filaments.

an automobile. tions, a relay is, of course, unnecessary, and the In view of the,characteristic of a gas tube to maintain its discharge after break down irrespec- I filaments.

The restoration of the bright illumination may be efiected by stopping the discharge of the tube. This can be most readily accomplished by bring ing the plate of the tube to the cathode potential. To secure this result, the switch 6t may be momentarily closed at 66 to energize the relay 58, thereby grounding the plate of the tube through contact point 62 and armature 60. A relay is desirably used at this point because it is generally undesirable to carry a high voltage lead such as that connected at the point 52 to a remote position, for example in the floor board of With proper insulating precauarmature 60 may be replaced by a manual switch.

The grounding of the plate deionizes the tube. During the ocurrence of such grounding, however, the relay 54 remains energized because of its connection between the high voltage point 56 and ground through the armature 60. Consequently, the making of contact between 60 and 86 does not produce an immediate shift to the bright illumination. -Ii the illumination on the photocell has dropped to such extent that the grid of the tube 18 is no longer at a suiiiciently high potential to efiect break down, the release of the switch M will cause release of the armature 60 and consequent deenergization of the relay 3, so that the bright illumination will be restored. However, if upon release of switch 64 the grid of tube 48 had a break-down potential by reason of illumination on the photocell 44, then, as soon as switch 64 is opened and armature 60 opens, break-down will occur, with the result that the relay 54 will continue energized. Thus, despite manual intervention, the bright illumination cannot be maintained if the photocell is sufiiciently illuminated by oncoming headlights.

As in the case of the previous modification, the shift of switch 80 to make contact at 82 will effect continued illumination of the dim headlights.

In the case of the modifications so far described, the restoration of the bright illumination after removal of illumination from the photocell is efiected manually. It is, of course, possible, though not so desirable, to efiect automatic return through some timing arrangement which, after dimming, will try to restore the bright illumination automatically after a predetermined time by momentary closure of a switch equivalent to either 35 of Figure 1 or 64 of Figure 2. It is more desirable, however, and considerably simpler, to efiect such restoration automatically by taking advantage of the fact that usually an oncoming headlight which will produce dimming will be passed by the vehicle subject to control and, just prior to such passing, the photocell will be subjected to very intense illumination.

' Advantage is taken of this condition to effect auexample, to a subsequent vehicle. Usually, automatic restoration of the bright lights will thus take place, but in the event that the vehicle producing dimming turns off the road or, for some other reason, the restoring intensity is not attained, the restoring may then be accomplished manually in a fashion similar to those involved in the operation of the preceding modifications. At any rate, by automatic arrangements manual restoration is made necessary only in relatively few instances.

In Figure 3 there is illustrated an automatic modification involving solely mechanical relays and representing a modification of the circuit of Figure 1. As in the case of Figure 1, a photocell has a positive voltage applied to its anode from theterminal 92 and is connected to the load or grid leak resistance 96 and to the grid of the vacuum tube 94. The terminal 98 supplies a proper biasing voltage to the grid of the tube.

In the plate circuit of the tube are two relays I00 and I02, respectively, arranged in series between the plate and the high voltage terminal I04. The relay I00 has an armature I06 adapted to be attracted into contact with the point I08, which is connected to the switch point I I0 of the snap switch I I2 corresponding to 34 previously described. This, in turn, is connected to the contact points H5 of the switch II3 corresponding to switch 35 of the modification of Figure 1. These switches are desirably of the types described above, and may be similarly mechanically interconnected. The switch H3 is connected through the main switch H4 to the low voltage supply source II6. power supply for the dimming device.

The alternate contact I20 of the switch H2 is connected to the ungrounded' side of the dim filaments I26 and is also connected to the contact point, I22 of the armature I20 of the relay I22. The armatures I06 and I24 are connected together and to one terminal of a third relay I28, the other terminal of which is grounded. The relay I28 is provided with an armature I30, elec-,

trically connected to the point I08 and contact IE0 and adapted to move between contact points I32 and I34 toward the latter of which it is urged by a suitable spring. Contact point I32 is electrically connected to contact I20, while contact point 53 is electrically connected to the ungrounded side of the bright filaments, I36.

In normal operation to eiiect bright illumination, the switch II I is closed and manual switch I I2 is in the position illustrated, while the armatures of the various relays are located as shown, armature I24 .being normally maintained in contact at I22 by a suitable spring. The relays I00 and I02 are so adjusted (by adjustment of contact points and spring tensions) so that relay I00 requires substantiall less current to attract its armature than relay I02. On the other hand, after the respective relay coils are energized, the relay I00 will drop its armature at a higher current value than the relay I02. In other words, as current increases, rela I00 will pick up its armature and subsequently relay I02 will pick up its armature. On the other hand, as the current then decreases, relay I00 will drop its armature to be followed by relay I02. With this arrangement in mind, the operation of eifecting the dimming and automatic return may now be described.

As soon as a sufiicient intensity of illumination occurs on the photocell 90 to raise the platecurrent to a. value to cause the rela I00 to attract The line IIB leads to the.

armature I06, contact will be made at I08, with the result that current will be supplied from IIO, through contact armature I08 to relay I28 fected through armature I06. Accordingly, even if relay I00 is immediately deenergized, both the dim filaments and relay I28 will remain energized. Thus there occurs a locking action similar to that of Figure 1 to prevent any flickering or instability in the system. The situation thus arising is maintained until the illumination on the photocell 90 rises to a sufliclent extent, for example, upon close approach of the vehicle which efiected dimming, to raise the plate current to a sufficient value to cause relay I02 to pick up its armature I24. This will, of course, break contact at I22. The illumination sufiicient to energize'rela I02 will, of course, also be sufficient to energize relay I00, and consequently armature I06 will make contact at this time with contact point I08 serving to maintain relay I28 energized through the electrical path from I I0 and armature I06. The dim filaments I26 will remain energized through the armature I30 and contact I32. I

As the bright illumination occasioned by the oncoming headlights wanes during passage of the vehicle, the plate current will now drop and, as stated above, armature I06 will be dropped by relay I00 before armature I24 is dropped by relay I02. As soon as the relay I00 drops its armature I06, relay I28 will be deenergized, since the alternative energizing circuit through armature I24 will now be open. Consequently, armature I30 will engage point I34 to restore the bright illumination, while at the same time the circuit of the dim filaments will be opened. When, even momentarily thereafter, relay I 02 drops its armature, no result occurs, since the armature I06 will be opened. Thus bright illumination is re stored by reason of the intense illumination occurring during the passing.

It will be noted that this action can occur only, if, at the time passing occurs, there is no other source suilicient to effect dimming. If there is such a source, the restoration of the bright i1- lumination will be delayed until the second or any subsequent source passes. Thus there can be no restoration of the bright illumination at i an improper time.

In the event that after dimming has been effected the illumination does not rise to a value sufilcient to energize the rela I02, a momentary opening of the circuit at I I3 will produce a restoration of the bright illumination by deenergizing the relay I28, maintaining it deenergized provided the relay I00 is not holding its armature. Thus manual restoration of bright illumination is effected in substantially the same fashion as occurs in the modification of Figure 1.

Continuous dim illumination may be provided by locating switch H2 in contact with point I20.

A modification of the circuit of Figure 2 may also be provided to effect automatic restoration of bright illumination. Such a modification is illustrated in Figure 4.

In this case, the photocell I38 having its anode connected to a high voltage supply I40 and having its cathode connected to a load resistor I44,

biased at I46, is connected to the grid of the gas tube I42 in the same fashion as in Figure 2. The plate of the gas tube is connected through a relay coil I50 to the high voltage supply I52 and is also connected to the contact point I56 adapted to be engaged by the grounded armature I54 01 a relay provided with a coil I58 connected to a switch point I62 engageable by a normally open switch I60 corresponding to switch 64 of the modification of Figure 2. The switch I60 is connected to the low voltage supply I64 through the main switch I66, which also controls the energization of the power supply through the lead I68. The parts so far described have their counterparts in the modification of Figure 2, as will be obvious.

The armature I'I0 of the relay I50, normally open, is adapted to engage the contact point "2 connected to a high voltage terminal I14, which may or may not be identical with I52, depending upon the suitable voltages for the tubes used. The armature H0 is connected to a second coil I'I-6 on the relay having the armature I54, and this second coil has its other end connected to the plate of a vacuum tube I48, the cathode of which is grounded. The relay I50 is provided with a second armature I18 normally engaging a contact I84 connected to the ungrounded side of the bright filaments I86 and adapted to be attracted by the relay into engagement with contact I connected to the ungrounded side of the dim filaments I82. The armature H8 is connected with one pole I 88 of a switch I 90, the other pole I92 of which is connected to the ungrounded side of the dim filaments I82. The switch I90 is connected through switch I66 with the low voltage source I64. The switches I90 and I60 may correspond, respectively, to the switches 80 and 64 of Figure 2 and may be similarly mechanically interconnected or, if desired, independent.

In the operation of the arrangement of Figure 4, the switch I90 is normally in engagement with contact I88 if bright illumination is desired. Switch I60 does not engage contact I62 except when manual restoration is desired, as in the modification of Figure 2. The armatures I54, I70 and I18 are in the respective positions illustrated. When there is insuificient illumination on the photocell I38 to eifect a change, the output I42 will not have broken down and the bias on the grid of tube I48 will be sufficient to maintain its plate current at such low value as not to cause the coil I16 to attract armature I54 even after plate voltage-is applied by closure of armature I10.

As soon as sufficiently intense illumination falls on photocell I38 to break down the tube I42, the plate current will immediately flow, energizing the relay I50 and attracting both armatures I10 and H8. The attraction of armature "0 will eilect application of high voltage to the plate of tube I48, but, as indicated above, with illumination only suflicient to produce dimming, the bias on the grid of this tube will maintain the plate current at a value insufiicient to effect closure of contact at I56. The attraction of armature I18 will break the connection to the bright filaments and make the connection to the dim filaments I 82, thus effecting dim illumination. After the tube I42 has broken down as just indicated, its grid will not gain control even though the source of illumination may be removed. Consequently, the circuit will be locked in the condition last described.

As the approaching vehicle comes nearer and is about to pass, the voltage of the grid of the tube I48 will increase in a positive sense with resulting increase in plate current until eventually the coil I16 will attract armature I54, grounding the plate of the gas tube I42 and stopping the discharge. It will be noted, however, that current will continue to flow through the relay I50 from the high voltage source to ground, maintaining the armatures I and I18 in their attracted positions.

curs, the high supply voltage will be immediately applied to the plate of tube I42, but its grid will now be sufiiciently negative to prevent discharge. Consequently, current flow through the coil I50 will cease, and armatures I10 and I18 will be dropped to efiect restoration of the bright illumination. It will be noted that after the'passage of the intense illumination, such restoration will not occur until the illumination on the photocell drops to a sufiicient extent not to cause ionization of the tube I42. Thus the bright illumination will not be restored if there are approaching cars subsequent to the one which effected closure of armature I56. It will be noted that armature I10 is not absolutely necessary, but it may be conveniently applied in connection with relay I50 to reduce the current drain on the power supply, since the relay I 50 is necessary in any event to attract the armature I18.

If for some reason the intense illumination necessary to provide illumination of the bright light does not occur, manual restoration may be efiected by closing the circuit through relay I58 momentarily at I60 to effect the same type of action as that occurring in the case of th modification of Figure 2.

Continued use of the dim filaments may be provided by moving switch I90 into contact at I 92.

It may be remarked that in the various embodiments, the main switches, indicated at 3%, 80 and H2 and I90, may be arranged to control the supply of high voltage to the tubes only when set for bright illumination. In such cases, however, the heaters of the tubes, and particularly of gas tubes, should be connected to the low voltage supply source continuously, so that'the tubes will be ready for substantially immediate operation.

It will be evident from the above description that various modifications in the described circuits may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with an electrical lighting circuit selectively variable to provide either dim or bright illumination, means for automatically controlling said circuit to interrupt the bright illumination and to provide dim illumination comprising relay means, photoelectric means responsive to a foreign source of illumination for to strong illumination and its withdrawal for restoring the bright illumination, said relay means comprising holding means acting to prevent restoration of said bright illumination until affected by said restoring means, and connections" by which the restoring means is rendered ineffective to restore the bright illumination by affecting said holding means until said foreign source has disappeared.

2. In combination with an electrical lighting circuit selectively variable to provide either dim or bright illumination, means for automatically controlling said circuit to interrupt the bright illumination and to provide dim illumination comprising relay means, photoelectric means responsive to a foreign source of illumination for operating said relay means, means responsive to strong illumination and its withdrawal for restoring the bright illumination, said relay means comprising holding means acting to prevent restoration of said bright illumination until affected by said restoring means, and connections by which the restoring means is rendered ineffective to restore the bright illumination by aiiecting said holding means until said foreign source has disappeared, said restoring means acting on said connections to interrupt temporarily a circuit through the holding means so that upon recompletion of such circuit the relay means provides bright illumination if the photoelectric means is not responding to a foreign source of illumination.

3. In combination with an electrical lighting circuit selectively variable to provide either dim or bright illumination, means for automatically controlling said circuit to interrupt the bright illumination and to provide dim illumination comprising relay means, photoelectric means respon sive to a foreign source of illumination for operating said relay means, means responsive to strong illumination and its withdrawal for restoring the bright illumination, said relay means comprising holding means acting to prevent restoration of said bright illumination until afiected by said restoring means, and connections by which the restoring means is rendered ineffective to restore the bright illumination by affecting said holding means until said foreign source has disappeared, said restoring means acting to render said holding means temporarily ineffective thereby to leave the control of the relay means solely to the photoelectric means.

4. In combination with an electrical lighting circuit selectively variable to provide either dim or bright illumination, means for automatically controlling said circuit to interrupt the bright i1- lumination and to provide dim illumination comprising relay means, photoelectric means responsive to a foreign source of illumination for energizing said relay means, said relay means comprising an armature and associated connections providing a holding circuit through which the relay may maintain itself energized independentl of said photoelectric means, and means responsive to strong illumination and its withdrawal for restoring the bright illumination, eflective when said photoelectric means is not responsive to a foreign source 01 illumination, by interruption of the holding circuit.

5. In comb nation with an electrical lighting circuit selectively variable to provide either dim or bri ht illumination, means for automatically controlling said circuit comprising photoelectric means responsive to a foreign source of illuminaop rat ng said relay m s; e ns respon ive tion for effectin interruption of the bright illumination and provision of the dim illumination,

means for maintaining the dim illumination following initial response of said photoelectric means despite removal therefrom of illumination from the foreign source, and meansrendered effective by a predetermined strong illumination of said photoelectric means for restoring the bright illumination.

7. In combination with an electrical lighting circuit selectively variable to provide either dim or bright illumination, means for automatically controlling said circuit comprising photoelectric means responsive to a foreign source of illumination for effecting interruption of the bright illamination and provision of the dim illumination,

means for maintaining the dim illumination following initial response of said photoelectric means despite removal therefrom of illumination from the foreign source, and means responsive to a predetermined strong illumination of said photoelectric means for interrupting the action of said maintaining means thereby to effect automatic restoration of the bright illumination.

8. In combination with an electrical lighting circuit selectively variable to provide either dim or bright illumination, means for automatically controlling said circuit to interrupt the bright. illumination and to provide dim illumination comprising relay means, photoelectric means responsive to a foreign source of illumination for operating said relay means, means for restoring the bright illumination, said relay means comprising holding means acting to prevent restoration of said bright illumination until affected by said restoring means, and connections by which the restoring means is rendered ineffective to restore the bright illumination by affecting said holding means until said foreign source has disappeared.

9. In combination with an electrical lighting circuit selectively variable to provide either dim or bright illumination, means for automatically controlling said circuit to interrupt the bright illumination and to provide dim illumination comprising relay means, photoelectric means responsive to a foreign source of illumination for operating said relay means, means for restoring t e bright illumination, said relay means comprising holding means acting to prevent restoration of said bright illumination until affected by said restoring'means, and connections by which the restoring means is rendered ineffective to restore the bright illumination by affecting said holding means until said foreign source has disappeared, said restoring means acting on said connections to interrupt temporarily a circuit through the holding means so that upon recompletion of such circuit the relay means provides bright illum nation if the photoelectric means is not responding to a foreign source of illumination.

10. In combination with an electrical lighting circuit selectively variable to provide either dim or bright illumination, means for automatically controlling said circuit to interrupt the bright illumination and to provide dim illumination comprising relay means, photoelectric means responsive to a foreign source of illumination for operating said relay means, means for restoring the bright illumination, said relay means comprising holding means acting to prevent restoration of said bright illumination until affected by said restoring means, and connections by which the restoring means is rendered ineffective to restore the bright illumination by affecting said holding means until said foreign source has disappeared, said restoring means acting to render said holding means temporarily ineffective thereby to leave the control of the relay means solely to the photoelectric means.

11. In combination with an electrical lighting circuit selectively variable to provide either dim or bright illumination, means for automatically controlling said circuit to interrupt the bright illumination and to provide dim illumination comprising relay means, photoelectric means responsive to a foreign source of illumination for operating said relay means, manually operable means for restoring the bright illumination, said relay means comprising holding means acting to prevent restoration of said bright illumination until affected by said restoring means, and connections by which the restoring means is rendered ineffective to restore the bright illumination by affecting said holding means until said foreign source has disappeared.

12. In combination with an electrical lighting circuit selectively variable to provide either dim or bright illumination, means for automatically controlling said circuit to interrupt the bright illumination and to provide dim illumination comprising relay means, photoelectric means responsive to a foreign source of illumination for operating said relay means, manually operable means for restoring the bright illumination, said relay means comprising holding means acting to prevent restoration of said bright illumination until affected by said restoring means, and connections by which the restoring means is rendered ineffective to restore the bright illumination by affecting said holding means until said foreign source has disappeared, said restoring means acting on said connections to interrupt temporarily a circuit through the holding means so that upon recompletion of such circuit the relay means provides bright illumination if the photoelectric means is not responding to a foreign source of illumination.

13. In combination with an electrical lighting circuit selectively variable to provide either dim or bright illumination, means for automatically controlling said circuit to interrupt the bright illumination and to provide dim illumination comprising relay means, photoelectric means responsive to a foreign source of illumination for operating said relay means, manually operable means for restoring the bright illumination, said relay means comprising holding means acting to prevent restoration of said bright illumination until affected by said restoring means, and connections by which the restoring means is rendered ineffective to restore the bright illumination by affecting said holding means until said foreign source has disappeared, said restoring means acting to render said holding means temporarily ineffective thereby to leave the control of the relay means solely to the photoelectric means.

14. In'combination with an electrical lighting circuit selectively variable to provide either dim or bright illumination, means for automatically controlling said circuit to interrupt the bright illumination and to provide dim illumination comprising relay means, photoelectric means responsive to a foreign source of illumination for energizing said relay means, said relay means comprising an armature and associated connections providing a holding circuit through which the relay may maintain itself energized independently of said photoelectric means, and means for restoring the bright illumination, effective when said photoelectric means is not responsive to a foreign source of illumination, by interruption of the holding circuit.

15. In combination with an electrical lighting circuit selectively variable to provide either dim or bright illumination, means for automatically controlling said circuit to interrupt the bright i1- lumination and to provide dim illumination comprising relay means, photoelectric means responsive to a foreign source of illumination for energizing said relay means, said relay means comprising an armature and associated connections providing a holding circuit through which the relay may maintain itself energized independently of said photoelectric means, and means for restoring the bright illumination, efiective when said photoelectric means is not responsive to a foreign source of illumination, by interruption of the holding circuit, said restoring means comprising a manually operable switch additionally operable to provide continuous dim illumination independently of responses of said photoelectric means.

16. In combination with an electrical circuit for providing both dim and brilliant electrical illumination, means for automatically selecting the dim illumination and retaining the dim illumination, comprising relay means and means responsive to a foreign source of illumination for operating said relay means, and means manually operated for restoring the bright illumination after the foreign source of illumination has disappeared.

17. In combination with an electrical circuit I for providing both dim and brilliant electrical illumination, means for automatically selecting the dim illumination and retaining the dim illumination, comprising a plurality of relays, a light sensitive cell and means operative by the energization of said light sensitive cell for operating one of said relays and selecting means associating a second relay with said first relay for operating the same and retaining it in a fixed position when the first relay has operated and means controlled by the operation of said second relay for selecting said dim illumination, and means including said selecting means manually operative for freeing said relay from its fixed position only when said first relay becomes nonenergized.

18. In combination with an electrical circuit for providing both dim and brilliant electrical illumination, means operable through a foreign source of illumination for selecting said dim illumination and means manually operable for restoring said brilliant illumination only when said source has disappeared.

19. In combination with an electrical circuit for providing both dim and brilliant electrical illumination, means manually operable for selecting either dim or brilliant illumination and means i operable through a foreign light source for selecting or maintaining said dim illumination and means associated with said selecting means for permitting the brilliant illumination to be selected only when the foreign source of illumination has disappeared.

20. In combination with an electrical circuit for providing both dim and brilliant electrical illumination, a foot or hand switch for selecting either bright or dim illumination, a plurality of relays includin a sensitive rela and power relay, means operative through a foreign source of light for energizing said sensitive relay for selecting said dim illumination, said means also energizing said power relay and maintaining said relay energized after said sensitive relay becomes deenergized for continuing to maintain dim illumination and means operable in combination with said foot or hand switch and said power relay whereby the system is restored to normal inoperative condition by momentarily breaking the power source.

21. In combination with an electrical lighting circuit selectively variable to provide either dim or bright illumination, means for automatically controlling said circuit comprising photoelectric means responsive to a foreign source of illumination for effecting interruption of the bright illumination and provision of the dim illumination, and means for maintaining the dim illumination following initial response of said photoelectric means despite removal therefrom of illumination from the foreign source.

22. In combination with an electrical lighting circuit selectively variable to provide either dim or bright illumination, means for automatically controlling said circuit comprising photoelectric means responsive to a foreign source of illuminationfor effecting interruption of the bright illumination and provision of the dim illumination, means for maintaining the dim illumination following initial response of said photoelectric means despite removal therefrom of illumination 'from the foreign source, means for restoring said bright illumination, and means for preventing restoration of the bright illumination by the last named means' of the photoelectric means is substantially illuminated.

HOWARD RUSSELL ANNIS. 

